Regular Candles Are Cancelled – Geometric Shapes Are All You’ll Want

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

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In school, I hated geometry. I was no good at it, and I resented geometric shapes (and my geometry teacher) for a long time. That is until geometric shapes became a trend and I didn’t have to calculate angles anymore.

Now that math isn’t involved, I love anything geometric. Geometric shapes actually look pretty cool with most kinds of decor, and these geometric candles are no different.

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I love these geometric candles. They’re colorful, smell amazing, and add a really cool decoration to whatever space I put them in!

They look super hard to make, but with some pre-made templates by Eleanna Kotsikou, and her instructions down below, it’s really not all that hard.

Here’s how to make the coolest candles you’ll ever have in just a few simple steps.

supplies-geocanldes
Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Download the template. Print it on card stock paper in A4 size (8.5in x 11in). You can also use heavyweight printer paper or photo paper (200-240gsm).

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Cut carefully along the dotted line of the pattern. Use a cutter for greater precision.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Now you need to fold all the solid lines of the template. Flip the paper over, so that the printed face is facing downwards. Use a thin ruler as a guide for perfectly straight folds.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Once the line is scored, remove the ruler and crease well.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

First, fold all the numbered tabs upwards.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Fold all the pentagons inwards.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Last, fold the three small triangles and crease well.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Unfold the paper.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Add some craft glue on tab number one.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Glue each numbered flap on the grey area with the same number.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Keep the flap in place with your fingers until it’s firmly glued.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Keep on gluing the rest of the tabs in the same way, in the numbered order, until your shape is complete.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Print it out like you did for the first shape.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Carefully cut out the shape, following the dotted line on the pattern.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Flip the pattern over and fold inwards, creasing all the numbered tabs.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Fold inwards along the rest of the pattern’s solid lines. Crease them well and then unfold.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Add glue along the numbered flaps or the corresponding grey area.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Follow the numbers in the pattern and glue the tabs together.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

When you glue tab number eight, your Cuboctahedron (missing the top face) is ready!

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

The third pattern is not like the other shapes. It’s a tube. Don’t worry, making the mold is actually much easier than it sounds!

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Print out the template.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Cut out the shape.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Flip the paper over and use a ruler to help you make neat folds.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Fold upwards and crease all the numbered tabs on the right edge and around the pentagon base of the pattern.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Now, fold to the right along all the diagonal lines.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

This time, fold the rest of the diagonal lines to the left.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Last, fold and crease along all horizontal lines of the design, starting with the pentagonal base.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Now that all the creases are ready, roll the paper into a cylindrical shape. Glue the numbered tabs with the correspondent grey areas. Start by gluing the pentagonal base of the tube. Make sure you keep the flaps outside the shape.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Fold the tabs on the side as well. Allow to dry and your pentagonal antiprism tube is ready.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Now all three molds are just about ready to go!

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Before you pour wax into the molds, apply a coat of house paint around the outside of the molds. Make sure all of the glue is dry.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Be generous with the paint at the corners of the tabs, which are the most vulnerable points of the mold. The paint will function as a protective layer, sealing it and preventing any leaking.

When the molds are painted, leave them to dry.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

It’s time to add the candle wicks. Use the short 13cm (5in) wicks for molds one and two, and the longer 18cm (7in) wick for mold number three.

Hold the wick inside the mold with the tab on the lower end.Measure the exact length from the bottom to the upper edge of the mold.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Now take a wooden skewer and wrap the wick around it to the required length.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Secure the wick in place with a knot.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Place the skewer on top of the mold and allow the wick to hang inside the mold. Make sure the wick reaches the bottom of the mold and that it is straight.

Also, it needs to be exactly centered so that the candle will burn equally.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

If you have an old pot, you can use it for heating the wax. Otherwise, if you don’t want to sacrifice a pot for candle-making, you can create a wire structure inside a large pot, which can support an empty jam jar.

So first calculate the diameter of your jam jar and twist the wire to create a circle based on this measurement. Then secure two or four ends of the wire to your pot handles.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Place the jam jar in the wire circle you created, and fill the pot with water. This will heat the wax gently and gradually, preventing it from boiling.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

To add color to the candles, use some leftovers crayons. Make sure all paper is removed, then trim the crayons into small pieces and place them in the jam jar. It is best to start with lighter colors and gradually move towards darker ones.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Place the pot on the stove on a low temperature. Once the pot starts to heat, the crayons will begin melting. Keep stirring it with a wooden stick (or skewer).

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com
Tip: Please be aware that this is a project for adults and you need to be really careful while heating wax. Never leave melting wax unattended. Take all safety precautions and always have a fire extinguisher within reach.

Once the crayon has melted, carefully add the paraffin flakes to the jam jar. To be more precise, I used flakes that are 80 per cent paraffin and 20 per cent stearin. Calculate how much you need for your mold and add the equivalent quantity.

Keep on stirring until it blends. You can also add some spices or some scented oils if you want to make a scented candle.

In this step, keep the temperature low and be careful not to allow the wax to boil. You can also use a thermometer to check that the wax temperature never exceeds 120°C (250°F).

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Keep stirring and once the paraffin flakes have completely dissolved, remove the pot from the heat. Continue mixing the wax for a few seconds until it reaches 80°C (170-180°F).

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Place the mold in a pan with some baking paper in order to prevent any accidents. Carefully pour the wax into the mold. Make sure to keep the wick centered during this step.

For the taller candle (pattern number three), it’s best to pour the wax partially. This means you pour a small quantity and allow the wax to dry.

Then you heat the wax in the jam jar again before pouring a second layer. Continue this process until the mold is full. You need to pour the wax partially as the paper is not strong enough to sustain the volume of liquid all at once.

Tip: Using this partial method of pouring wax, you can create two-colored or even striped candles.

If you’ve prepared more wax than needed for this mold, don’t throw it away! You can easily heat it up again and use it for another mold.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Leave the wax to cool for three to four hours, until it becomes solid. Remove the bamboo stick and trim the wick, leaving 2cm to 3cm (1in).

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

Tear and remove the paper mold to reveal the candle.

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com

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Whether you decide to burn yours or keep them as decorations, you’re going to love them, guaranteed. I love how mine look on top of my dresser!

What colors and scents are you going to do for yours?

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Eleanna Kotsikou / tutsplus.com